Training for CSOs and initiative groups of the U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Kazakhstan project held in Nur-Sultan city

NUR-SULTAN – During the 24^th-29^th of November 2019, Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia (EFCA), in partnership with Tandau and Erekshe Tandau Shelek Foundation, conducted a monitoring and advocacy training in the framework of the “Interactive Accessibility Map for People with Disabilities and with Limited Mobility”, sponsored and supported by the U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Kazakhstan.

21 members of CSOs and initiative groups from 19 cities in Kazakhstan took part in the training. The purpose of the training was to improve the technical capabilities of the project participants, to train and equip them with the necessary tools to do so, familiarize participants with practical methods of data collection to monitor the accessibility of facilities in their cities, and to display the information received from the public on the interactive map portal. Experts in the field of monitoring and advocacy acted as the trainers.

During the training, participants applied the acquired knowledge in practice exercises, filling out a checklist that determined the accessibility of facilities and developing recommendations for the adaptation of facilities, taking into account the needs of people with limited mobility. The second focus of ​​the practice exercises at the training included getting to know the interactive accessibility map and analyzing the functionality of the “Inclusive Kazakhstan” website. This will help participants in their future work, including filling out the contents of an interactive map, as well as in filing complaints about inaccessible facilities with state bodies.

“As a developer of the course “Ensuring the accessibility of public facilities”, I would like to evaluate the results that our partners achieved. During the analysis of the material, all unclear issues were resolved, topics for re-examination were identified. From that moment on, every region has a certified expert in creating a barrier-free environment”, said Alexandra Bobkova, project partner and expert.

“During the training, I received answers to all my questions. Practical exercises with a visit of facilities made it possible to see errors during the monitoring. Separately, I want to note that cases have been worked out that will facilitate the monitoring of facilities, ”said Akzhan Karim, regional head of the Association of Legal Entities“ Association of Persons with Disabilities “ARDOS-Zhurek”, Petropavlovsk city.